Bude's Ha'Penny Postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.budepeople.co.uk/Bude-s-Ha-P ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When we all had a grumble on Bude People about the planned Royal Mail hike in postal prices, no one seriously thought that the Bude man who mooted the idea of a local postal service, delivered on his ha-penny farthing, for only 25p a letter was for real. But he is and having thought of the idea on Thursday last week, Graham Eccles did his first collection on Sunday and his first deliveries yesterday…


To use a Twitter term, the interest and enthusiasm in the idea has gone 'viral'. Graham's Facebook page has been viewed by people from around the world because it seems that, in this global world, the idea of a local postal service in a British seaside town is pretty unique!

Yes, folks, Bude now has its alternative local postal service! Mmn, the idea is a little eccentric, but that's great, and it offers a real value for money service for the community who, Graham hopes, will support it. The signs are that this is already happening as people become increasingly fed up with large organisations making life ever costlier!

Originally from Bradford, Graham has lived in Bude for just over 2 years, in which time he has made his mark as an entertainer, modeller of huge balloons, juggler, naked calendar pin-up, and something of a poet. As he says: "Bude is a great place to be creative in adversity". But, while he is booked for various fairs and fetes this summer, his focus is currently firmly on the post! For this is a man with a mission.

Now, for those who don't know (like me) a ha-penny farthing is a 36 inch wheel vehicle (smaller than a penny farthing). Nonetheless, it looks impressive, and even just standing outside G's cafe (where we enjoyed lovely refreshments yesterday - do try their gorgeous hot chocolate with rose essence - but I digress) Graham and his farthing were attracting admiring glances and cries of "ooh, can he ride it?" Well, yes, he can, uphill and downhill, for Graham covers the areas of Bude, Stratton, Poughill, Flexbury and Lynstone daily so far in his postal service, which as you know is undulating to say the least. He will also do Widemouth/Stibb twice a week, and on days when he's looking after his children, they apparently like nothing more than to go in his trailer.

Later, if the idea really takes off, Graham would like out-riders in places like Kilkhampton and Week St Mary to deliver farther afield. So far, he has makeshift postboxes at Crazy Suze on Queen Street, Lansdown Dairies and Books by the Sea. You may buy stamps at Crazy Suze and Books by the Sea. A business yesterday bought 96 of them!! With charges at a very reasonable 25p a letter and a £1 per package under llb in weight, he beats the Royal Mail hands down because not only is he cheaper, he also offers Sunday collections and same day delivery. Parcels, he records and signs for, and will personally guarantee for anything of a value up to £25.

Yesterday, Graham had 50 letters to deliver. which isn't bad in the first two days of business! The Tourist Information Service has been very helpful/supportive, along with North Coast Wines, and the Bude Sea Pool. And why not, because it is a fantastic local initiative, a community service and yes, actually, a tourist attraction, too. And times are hard. We are all having to tighten our belts in these days of austerity measures. Graham's now thinking of getting some leaflets printed, currently using the slogan 'Not Bad for a Crown' and feels he is following in the footsteps of William Dockwra who organised the London Penny Post in 1680 (taken over by the Government in 1682) and later William Rowland with the Penny Post of 1840. Cheap, efficient, personally delivered post is attractive!

As he does his rounds, Graham does a fair bit of thinking about how his business might evolve. He is interested in having stamped postcards which tourists could post locally to themselves as a souvenir of Bude, for example, but more importantly in providing a service to the community, especially the elderly but also businesses. Graham likes to talk to his customers and provide a friendly service. Indeed, how wonderful to have that special birthday card, love letter or thank you note delivered by ha'penny farthing! Even a bill for your new tyres might seem better hand delivered by farthing! Graham sees it as a good service for elderly people who may struggle to get to the post office, especially if he can spread his net of postboxes to more rural areas like Poughill, but also wants to encourage youngsters to write letters. He'd like, next term, to have a post box in each school, each uniquely designed by the children of that school. He likes writing letters and wants to get people writing letters so, as he puts it, he's planting the seeds and letting them grow. Literacy in action!! Watch this space…….

Obviously, Graham poses no major threat to the Royal Mail who will continue to have our business when sending post up country, down country or even abroad, but hopefully local people/businesses will support his initiative and save themselves money, too. Remember, a first class stamp is 46p and rises to 60p on 30th April - and it often doesn't mean a first class service! As we always say on Bude People, support local business! And it doesn't come any more unique than this, folks!! Meanwhile, Graham could become the latest Bude tourist attraction if yesterday's reactions were anything to go by…………

[Lounge Lizard]

"Originally from Bradford, Graham has lived in Bude for just over 2 years, in which time he has made his mark as a .... naked calendar pin-up." - no need to buy a uniform then.
"With charges at a very reasonable 25p a letter and a £1 per package under llb in weight, he beats the Royal Mail hands down because not only is he cheaper, he also offers Sunday collections and same day delivery." - absolutely brilliant for anyone who only wants anything delivered in the village.

[meercat]

Be afraid - undercutting us by a huge margin.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17619173

[Lounge Lizard]

"The man who lives in Bude now delivers mail within his hometown and the surrounding villages for 25p a letter, more than half the price of Royal Mail's postage." Other than neglecting to suggest that this is irrelevant for anyone with anything to send beyond 'surrounding villages' shouldn't the once Good Old BBC properly decide if it's 'more' or 'less' than half the price of Royal Mail's First or Second class postage ?

[meercat]

No one knows the price of a stamp these days. It's been like that since 1974

[kawoxux]

what a mental

150 letters a week x 25 pence = 37.50

I think he should get a real job

[meercat]

what a mental

150 letters a week x 25 pence = 37.50

I think he should get a real job

You could get 148 Mars Bars with that so it is worth it. On a six day week he could average 24 Mars Bars a day so energy requirments for all that cycling would not be an issue.

[steven100]

Ok the guy isn't making lots of money yet, but nothing is stopping local businesses in big cities from doing the same. Sadly rm should beware. Another lost revenue. Soon stamped items from city to city will only be delivered by rm.

[Wessex]

I think Steven100 is right,I must confess I have long considered doing the same.I used to work for a private postal service nearly 30 years ago (ironically on Old Street) and I can see this service being offered

in all of our towns undercutting RM now the latest price increases are known. Who knows there may come the day when rm pay these firms to do some local work.

What would be interesting is if,in the future, a myriad of small local delivery firms then were to set up mutual delivery arrangements on a co-operative basis.

[Biker Mouse]

Doesn't he require some sort of license to deliver post?

[POSTMAN]

Looking at the list I can't see him...
If you want to convey mail weighing less than 350g and costing less than £1, unless excepted by the Postal Services Act 2000, you must obtain a licence from Postcomm...

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov. ... doperators" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also can't find a licensed operators link on the new website...
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/post/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Darren Bent]

at 25p a letter let say he get 200 a day that is 50 pounds. So he will need to get about 500 a day to make it worthwhile and for local post it is not going to be easy.

[Lounge Lizard]

at 25p a letter let say he get 200 a day that is 50 pounds. So he will need to get about 500 a day to make it worthwhile and for local post it is not going to be easy.

I think the only way it's going to work is if he pays one of the Down Stream Access companies 20p for each letter to take them off his hands, then the DSA parasite pays Royal Mail 15p to deliver them. He makes £10 a day, as does the DSA company, and we subsidise them both.

[Wessex]

No licence is required ,since Postcomm handed over to Ofcom,makes one think why.I emailed ofcom some time ago about this and no you dont need a licence as long as you adhere to the rules.

If you go on Ofcoms website you will see a lack of info re postal licensing :dcfo :ncfo :vcfo .Thats cos the 'they ' consider it job done Makes you think .

[POSTMAN]

Cheers Wessex,wtf!